Patient Rights and Responsibilities

At St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center we believe deeply in the dignity of the individual and in the right of all persons to safe, self directed, quality healthcare. It is our goal to provide you with considerate and respectful treatment while you are here. We are committed to preserving dignity and honoring personal values by protecting the rights of every patient.

If you are not satisfied with your care, for any reason, please report it immediately to your care givers, the nursing supervisor or the Patient Representative Department at 777-8208. You also have the right to lodge a grievance or complaint about your hospital stay or the care you received while at the hospital directly with the Maine Department of Human Services Division of Licensing and Certification.* To do so, you may call or write to:

At St. Mary’s we have committed ourselves to giving our patients quality, efficient care with compassion and respect. And that means affording you some basic rights that you can expect as a patient.

YOUR RIGHTS AS A PATIENT:

You have the right to receive written information of your rights as a patient.

You have the right to appropriate medical care, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

You have the right to care that is considerate and respectful of personal values and beliefs.

You have the right to personal privacy.

You have the right to confidentiality of your clinical records in accordance with the law.

You have the right to receive care in a safe environment.

You have the right to be free from all forms of abuse or harassment.

You have the right to know the identity of individuals providing your care.

You have the right to have a family member, friend or other individual of your choice present for emotional support during the course of your stay.

You have the right to have a family member of your choice and your own physician notified of your stay.

You have the right to make informed decisions regarding your care, including pain management.

You have the right to participate in the development and implementation of your plan of care.

You have the right to request or refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, or to change your mind regarding your care.

You have the right to formulate advance directives regarding your care for when you are unable to make decisions regarding your care, and to have St. Mary’s staff and practitioners who provide care in the hospital comply with these directives in accordance with the law. SMRMC will honor advance directives in an outpatient setting unless an emergency medical event occurs at which time resuscitative or other stabilizing measures will be initiated and you will be transferred to the Emergency Department or an inpatient unit for further evaluation. You have the right to revoke all or part of your advance directives at any time.

You have the right to access information contained within your clinical record within a reasonable time frame.

You have the right to give or withhold informed consent to produce or use recordings, films or other images of you for purposes other than your care.

You have the right to be free from restraints or seclusion.

You have the right to participate in ethical issues that may arise in the course of your care.

You have the right to receive information about clinical experiments, research or educational projects affecting your care or treatment including the expected benefits, potential discomforts and risks and alternatives that may also be available.

You have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain.

You have the right to receive information in a manner that you understand including the provision of interpreting and translation services or the provision of visual aids or adaptive equipment.

You have the right to be informed of the St. Mary’s complaint/ grievance process and to voice complaints/concerns without affecting your care and treatment.

You have the right to access protective and advocacy services.

You have the right to receive a detailed explanation of your bill and to know about hospital charges and payment methods. As a healthcare facility, we are prohibited from receiving payment for serious harm that results from preventable mistakes and adverse events as defined by law.

PATIENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

You are responsible for your safety and well-being, we expect you to provide accurate and complete health information in all matters relating to your health and to understand your plan of care.

It is important that you report all changes in your condition.

It is important that you follow the agreed upon plan of care. If you decide not to follow the plan, please notify your physician or nurse immediately.

Accept responsibility for the outcomes of refusing treatment or for not following the agreed upon plan of care.

We ask that you follow St. Mary’s rules and regulations affecting your care and that of other patients.

Please be considerate and respectful of the rights of other patients and make sure that your visitors respect these rights as well.